Naruto POV

I sat on the swings wearing my goggles and watching kids running around on the playground. I didn't see any adults so I thought it was okay to go forward. I went torward the slide when a boy and puppy jumped in front of me. The puppy was running away and the boy was laughing.

"Akamaru! Wait you little flea-bag!" He shouted I stepped back from him and grinned as the puppy came towards me.

"Hi there pup-OW!" The dog bit my hand I reached out to pet him with

"Oh man! Sorry kid, he's still untrained!" The boy panted

"It's okay..." I smiled, a little shy of this loud kid

"Hey, why're so quiet? A guy's gotta be loud!" He smirked, his red triangle marked cheeks dimpling.

"Uh, yeah!" I grinned louder this time.

"Kiba, not everyone's gotta be loud. Ninja are quiet anyways..." Another boy with a ponytail and a gray shirt and pants muttered, next to him was a larger kid with a cream shirt and red shorts.

"Ah, shut it Shikamaru, just cause you're so lazy and quiet doesn't mean I am!" the Kiba boy growled

"You don't see Choji yelling like a maniac do you?" Shiamaru nodded to his left azt the chip munching boy. He looked at me and offered me a chip,

"Hi, I'm Choji Akamichi." He smiled shyly

"Hi Choji, I'm Naruto Uzumaki!" I grinned

"Oh great now he's a loud-mouth too." Shikamaru groaned before smirking, "So I guess you figured and it'd be troublesome to go through this again later, but I'm Shikamaru Nara." He nodded to the other boy and grinned, "This troublesome guy is Kiba Inuzuka."

"Pfft, I'm not troublesome!" He shouted

"Me having to get you unwedged from the tunnel says otherwise, my mom had a fit with the mud on my clothes."

"Bah, a ninja's gotta get dirty now and then!" Kiba shrugged

"So you're all gonna be ninjas?" I asked

"Yeah, once we graduate from the academy!" Kiba smiled

"I'm gonna go there once I'm old enough too!" I smiled

"Cool Naru! I bet I'll do better than you!" Kiba smirked

"No way! I'll beat you down dog-boy!" I grinned back challengingly

"I might not even bother if you loud-mouths are entering..." Shikamaru groaned

"Your mom'll have a fit though." Choji smiled

"Gah... how troublesome." He sighed

"Shikamaaaaruuu, TAG!" Kiba shouted before shoving him softly and running.

"That's too bothersome... Naruto, I forgot something," He held out his hand to shake it "Nice to meet you."

I grinned and held my hand out too, "Yeah Shikama-" He slapped my hand softly and smirked

"Tag, no tag backs." He then walked off before I knew what had happened. I blushed at being tricked.

"That's no fair!" I yelled, while I heard Kiba howl with laughter and Choji snicker a little before jogging away from me. I ran after Choji since he was closest and we played tag until the sky started to darken. I ran from Kiba one last time and saw Shikamaru hiding in a tree, staring up. "What're you doing?" I called up

"Watching the clouds... and NOT getting tagged." He sighed, "Are you it?"

"Nuh uh, its Kiba... he's chasing Akamaru again though." I grinned climbing up

"Hmm, that'll keep him busy a bit I guess." Shikamaru sighed

"Why're watching the clouds?" I ask as I sit by his head

"It's peaceful... and honestly its easier to stare at these and think of the shapes to clouds are then to stay awake in school... or chase after dog-boy." He smirked up at me as I cracked a grin at that.

"That one looks like a bowl of ramen!" I pointed to a cloud and smiled, looking forward to dinner since Jiji was gonna take me out tonight.

"Nah, it's a riceball." Shikamaru drawled

"Nuh uh! I bet its miso ramen with extra pork!" I huffed

"Bah, fine... it's too troublesome to argue." He sighed before the tree started wiggling a little.

"AKAMARU!" Kiba yelled, the dog skittered up the tree and landed on Shikamaru's chest, he sat up right away, bouncing my head into the tree trunk making my goggles go over my eyes.

"Geez, Kiba control your pup!" I shouted, feeling something on my lap. I looked through my goggles seeing Shikamaru lying on my thighs with Akamaru licking his face.

"Take him before I tell Choji to eat him!" Shikamaru groaned handing down the dog before looking up to see me blushing. I'd never had anyone but Jiji really be so close to me. I saw his eyes look over my face before I pushed my goggles back on my forehead. Shikamaru stared a moment longer before he just sighed and relaxed still on my lap. "Well so much for relaxing..." He chuckled

"I'm not a pillow y'know." I muttered quietly

"But you are warm... and this makes you quiet." He smirked

"Shut up!" I huffed

"Fine." He shut his mouth and kept looking at the clouds I groaned and nudged my leg

"And get off me!" I said, nudging my leg again

"So bossy..." He sighed before sitting up and stretching. "Ahhh... it's almost time for-"

"Shikamaru, c'mon!"

"Kiba! Move your butt!"

"Choji! Dinner!"

I perked up hearing new voices and saw 3 adults waiting by the park gate.

"Dinner... well I guess I'll see you later... where's your parents?" Shikamaru asked, jumping down where Kiba was waiting with Choji walking towards us.

I cringed a little and then smiled really big, "My pick up will get me soon enough! Believe it!" I smiled jumping down with him

"Okay... See you tomorrow? We usually come play after lunch time." Choji smiled

"Yeah come back and play Naruto, these guys usually give up on ninja too soon!" Kiba grinned

"That's because you're too troublesome to play a long game with..." Shikamaru sighed before looking at me, "But you should come."

I grinned happily, I finally had people to play with. "Yeah! I'll be right here!" I held out my pinkie and they all latched on mine.

"Cool! See ya!" Kiba yelled breaking away to run after his mom.

"Alright, I'll bring extra snacks!" Choji smiled and walked toward his dad, waiting a bit for Shikamaru who just nodded to me and smiled a small smile. I waved a small wave and watched them all go with their parents.

While I stayed behind...

I sighed and walked back to my old swing and waited for Jiji to finish his paperwork and come get me.

Today I think I made friends...